REVIEW: ‘Bartender: Glass Of God’ Episode 1 — “A Gentle Perch”

Anime food is always a talking point. From Delicious In Dungeon (Dungeon Meshi) to the plethora of Studio Ghibli meals, it’s a topic that continues to make our mouths water. Series like Food Wars (Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma) capture the impact that food has when it’s too good to be true—yes, even with its ecchi flair. Now, with Bartender: Glass of God (Bartender: Kami no Glass) Episode 1, “A Gentle Perch,” anime drinks are here to get the spotlight.

You won’t find the ecchi eccentricities of Food Wars in Bartender: Glass of God. However, you will find the explosive taste of simple drinks highlighted as experiences. Only here is the down-to-earth handling of the subject. This is easily relatable for anyone who tells a bartender what they like and lets them take the reins to just create.

Bartender: Glass of God is animated by studio Liber and directed by Ryouichi Kuraya. The anime adaptation is based on the manga written by mangaka Araki Joh and illustrated by Kenji Nagatomo. This is the second time that this story has been adapted into an anime. The first began airing in 2006 with director Masaki Watanabe at the helm. The most recent reboot is already off to a great start in Bartender: Glass of God Episode 1.

A slice-of-life anime, the series focuses on Eden Hall, a bar where each glass has a story. Lowkey and nearly empty, it’s tucked away in the bustling streets of Tokyo. It isn’t loud or brash, or living on its gimmicks. Instead, it’s there for the lonely and those looking for a piece of respite. All of this is thanks to the bartender, Ryu. He doesn’t have any flair and he doesn’t distract with unnecessary additives. Instead, he just crafts cocktails that respect the ingredients and the people he serves.

In Bartender: Glass of God Episode 1, we meet a hotel manager who is holding interviews in order to staff her bar. The one she chooses is a flashy bartender who wows his customers with a “Sup.” With his flirtatious demeanor and good looks he is able to pack the bar. But when she crosses paths with Ryu and needs to return a book to him, she realizes there is more to drinks than the alcohol in them and the party they bring.

The series already establishes its tone in the slice of life realm. It’s quiet and unassuming, but like the Highball Ryu serves, it carries a lot more depth. The interactions between Ryu and his guests are caring, capturing the important thing about any great bartender: empathy. No one patron is the same from the next and every different character brings their own personalities and backstories to the table.

By opening the series with a Grasshopper, a Cosmopolitan, and a Highball, studio Liber shows its beverage animation with more simple drinks. But they’re gorgeous all the same. The real highlight in Bartender: Glass of God Episode 1 is Ryu’s process of crafting the cocktails. He chisels the ice, mixes the drink, and doesn’t speak that much. He’s unassuming and doesn’t take up space, but that makes his drinks all the more important when they hit. Ryu ultimately has all the makings of a great protagonist and like last season, it’s fantastic to see a mature slice of life just about work.

Bartender: Glass of God Episode 1 is a thin episode that introduces the audience to Ryu and the bartending profession itself. A full-bodied slice-of-life, Eden Hall is a bar I can’t wait to head to every week.

Bartender: Glass of God Episode 1 is streaming now, exclusively on Crunchyroll.